Tag: Civil Engineering

Why Urban Densification Will Allow Cities to Accommodate More Climate Refugees

Why Urban Densification Will Allow Cities to Accommodate More Climate Refugees

Why Urban Densification Will Allow Cities to Accommodate More Climate Refugees

07/26/20

“How will allowing for a denser urban environment allow cities to accommodate more climate refugees?”

 

The Earth’s changing climate is forcing many people to flee their homes in search of new ones. As the land available to be inhabited becomes smaller, a few places are going to see tremendous population growth. Many of these areas do not have urban zoning and building layout to accommodate such a move. However, if they choose to densify, then they will be able to handle the influx of denizens and provide everyone a safe and happy place to live. This is Why Urban Densification Will Allow Cities to Accommodate More Climate Refugees.

Green Infrastructure

Green Infrastructure

Green Infrastructure

07/19/20

“How can greenery be infrastructure?”

 

When people bring up the term infrastructure, artificial gray infrastructure is often thought of as the focus. However, infrastructure goes well beyond this. Green Infrastructure consists of more natural, nature-based sources such as Green Roofs and Green Stormwater Infrastructure. Green infrastructure is well-suited for flood management, since plants have a natural ability to absorb water.

Gray Infrastructure

Gray Infrastructure

Gray Infrastructure

07/18/20

“What is the classification for built physical infrastructure?”

 

When the word infrastructure comes up in conversation, most people will imagine large human-built physical manifestations such as buildings, bridges, and roads. This is actually only a subset of all infrastructure types, this in particular being Gray Infrastructure. Gray infrastructure is the fundamental driver behind the civil engineering profession and is responsible for the massive cities that many of us reside in today.

How Pipeline Failures Harm Local Water Supplies

How Pipeline Failures Harm Local Water Supplies

How Pipeline Failures Harm Local Water Supplies

07/16/20

“How do pipeline failures threaten local water supplies?”

 

Pipelines are used to transport heavy, often-toxic fluids long distances. Although sturdy, these pieces of infrastructure are not invulnerable. In fact, if damaged, these toxic substances can spill out into localized water sources, contaminating them. This was one of the reasons for the blocking of the Keystone pipeline. This is How Pipeline Failures Harm Local Water Supplies.

Highway Construction and Racism

Highway Construction and Racism

Highway Construction and Racism

06/25/20

“What is the connection between highway construction and racism?”

 

Highways are on the staple features of modern American life. They allow for large numbers of vehicles to be uplifted and transported through the air. But how exactly where these pieces of infrastructure created? Well, since these highways need a foundation, area needs to be cleared. And since these highways were made in urban areas, communities with the least amount of systematic power were selected to be cleared. This displaced a multitude of communities of color in the U.S and forced many more to live in polluted environmental conditions that still stand today. This is the connection between Highway Construction and Racism.

And don’t forget, #BlackLivesMatter

How Increasing Diverse Representation in Infrastructure Engineering Would Improve the Profession

How Increasing Diverse Representation in Infrastructure Engineering Would Improve the Profession

How Increasing Diverse Representation in Infrastructure Engineering Would Improve the Profession

06/16/20

“How would increasing the amount of diversity in infrastructure engineering improve the profession?”

 

Due to discriminatory power structures, the field of infrastructure engineering is quite uniform in terms of its demographics. This means that individuals coming from communities that are not well-represented will have fewer opportunities to make their voices heard during critical matters. This can be seen in events such as highway construction in the United States, where entire neighborhoods of black and brown communities were bulldozed to make room for these structures. These actions have left us with rotting and inequitable infrastructure that hurt all communities. To change this, increasing diverse representation in infrastructure engineering would allow such individuals to be in charge of high-level decisions and ensure that community safety is not violated. This is How Increasing Diverse Representation in Infrastructure Engineering Would Improve the Profession.

 

And don’t forget, #BlackLivesMatter

Why Infrastructure in Marginalized Communities Will Fail Disproportionately During Climate Change

Why Infrastructure in Marginalized Communities Will Fail Disproportionately During Climate Change

Why Infrastructure in Marginalized Communities Will Fail Disproportionately During Climate Change

06/15/20

“Why will infrastructure in marginalized communities be destroyed more during climate change?”

 

Infrastructure in marginalized communities is disproportionately in a worse state due to negligence from higher echelons of power. With the advent of climate change, this infrastructure is going to become even more damaged since not only are these same communities typically on the frontlines but the money reserved for climate impacts will mostly go towards wealthier communities. This is Why Infrastructure in Marginalized Communities Will Fail Disproportionately During Climate Change.

And don’t forget, #BlackLivesMatter

Sponge Cities

Sponge Cities

Sponge Cities

02/19/20

“How can cities be designed to absorb water from floods instead of block it?”

 

With rising sea levels and rain penetration due to climate change, cities are looking for ways to adapt. Although the most popular methods typically involve building massive pieces of infrastructure such as sea walls, more natural ways to solve this are available. One innovative way is to remodel urban areas as Sponge Cities. Sponge cities are cities with large volumes of greenery that can absorb any torrent of water. These green spaces can range from gardens to green roofs to simple porous designs. Sponge cities not only make municipalities more resilient to climate change but also prevent discharge of polluted water, increases biodiversity, and improve quality of life.

 

Image credit http://www.sciencefriday.com

How Prefabricated Housing Creates Resilience for Communities

How Prefabricated Housing Creates Resilience for Communities

How Prefabricated Housing Creates Resilience for Communities

12/12/19

“How does prefabricated housing create resilience for communities?”

 

Prefabricated housing represents a paradigm shift in the construction industry. No longer do projects have to rely on intricate designs and supply chains, now they are free to use a general template that can be replicated with ease. Not only is this more sustainable due to using fewer resources, but it also allows for greater resiliency in many ways. More houses can be built at a quicker rate for less investment, allowing for refugees to move in en-masse. These homes can also be built to the latest resilience standards, and parts can be easily replaced in case of a disaster due to their mass-produced nature. Finally, their simplified construction supply chain makes them less poised for disruption. This is How Prefabricated Housing Creates Resilience for Communities.

Image credit inhabitat.com